Synonyms of waspish

waspish

adjective

ˈwä-spish 

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed

extremely waspish, she uses her wit viciously when irritated

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritable
• fiery
• peevish
• irascible
• petulant
• snappish
• pettish
• snarky
• grumpy
• testy
• grouchy
• crotchety
• choleric
• cross
• out of humor
• raspy
• snippy
• passionate
• crabby
• stuffy
• sensitive
• cranky
• short-tempered
• out of sorts
• prickly
• perverse
• short
• quick-tempered
• querulous
• dyspeptic
• snappy
• disagreeable
• cantankerous
• ratty
• snippety
• pugnacious
• bilious
• curmudgeonly
• contentious
• surly
• ornery
• bellicose
• snarly
• combative
• sulky
• fretful
• belligerent
• argumentative
• ill-tempered
• tetchy
• truculent
• ill-natured
• quarrelsome
• ill-humored
• sullen
• fractious
• disputatious
• pouty
• cross-grained
• huffy
• scrappy
• bearish
• touchy
• off-color
• thin-skinned
• hot-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• friendly
• genial
• cordial
• affable
• outgoing
• amiable
• companionable
• gregarious
• sweet
• sociable
• extroverted
• good-natured
• agreeable
• carefree
• easygoing
• relaxed
• good-tempered
• patient
• well-disposed
• tolerant
• stoic
• long-suffering
• uncomplaining
• forbearing
• understanding
• obliging
• happy-go-lucky

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of waspish

After some increasingly waspish bickering between Aleida and Irina, the group manages to agree once more on the importance of the Space Elevator and Titan mission succeeding unaffected by the ongoing protests. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026

Spitting Image has delivered a typically waspish response after Deadline revealed this week that the show had been served with a lawsuit by the owners of Paddington Bear. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025

But what a response — a performance full of waspish pressing, muscular defending and precise, efficient counters. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

In contrast to her expansive mate, Toklas was a waspish temple gatekeeper who never ceased to hold grudges. — Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

The waspish Queen – played by Rebecca Trehearn, whose deliciously withering grandeur would give Marie Antoinette pause — is not, to put it mildly, pleased. — David Benedict, Variety, 19 Aug. 2021

The author takes a waspish tone that doesn’t always enhance his arguments, but the book is an excellent distillation of a complicated menace. — Barton Swaim, WSJ, 26 Feb. 2021